U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Thursday that Washington has no objections to Iranian players participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, he emphasized that individuals with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will not be permitted to enter the United States alongside the team.
Rubio's Clarification on Iranian Participation
“Nothing from the U.S. has told them they can’t come,” Rubio told reporters, addressing concerns that Iranian athletes might be barred from the tournament. President Donald Trump also weighed in, saying his administration “would not want to affect the athletes” during comments at the White House.
The 2026 soccer World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Iran is among the qualified teams, but recent geopolitical tensions have raised questions about their participation.
IRGC Restrictions and Security Concerns
Rubio elaborated on the restrictions, stating, “The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. It would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in but not the athletes themselves.” He further added, “They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers.”
The IRGC has been designated a “foreign terrorist organization” by the United States, and any individuals with links to the group face stringent visa restrictions.
Previous Controversy and Iran's Request
Paolo Zampolli, a Trump envoy with no official connection to the World Cup, had earlier suggested that Italy should replace Iran in the tournament. However, there is currently no indication that Iran will withdraw or be banned. Iran had previously requested FIFA to move their three group matches from the U.S. to Mexico due to security concerns, but the request was rejected.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. bases. The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties and displaced millions. A fragile ceasefire has been in place for over two weeks.
